Reddit Explains The F1 Racing Lifestyle

How Reddit Prepared Me For A Day At The F1 Paddock Club

I recently had the privilege of spending the day at the Grand Prix with the Martini Williams Racing crew. I watched the race from the garage, I walked the pit lane and saw all of the cars and mechanics gearing up for the race, and I hobnobbed with the drivers between races.

After the day spent learning the ins and outs of the Italian racing lifestyle, you could call me an expert in all things F1. From the unlimited Prosecco to the insane finesse of the pit stop and garage, I can see the appeal of the sport and the lifestyle without a doubt.

That said, going into the event, I had no idea what to expect. Sure, I’ve watched my fair share of race days — in the comfort of a sports bar. Never had I had the chance to walk the pit lane or watch the race from behind the scenes. So naturally, to help prepare myself for the experience, I turned to the Internet to get a crash course in all things racing. Namely: Reddit. You’d be surprised by what you can learn simply by running through a few r/ threads.

1) The Williams team pit crew boasts the fastest pit stop wheel change in the business.

With just 2.1 seconds per car. This beats out Mercedes, and even Ferrari.

You could see the respect drivers have for one another when you walked down the Paddock after each qualifying round. Nodding and waving was common. What was most striking was the way Lewis Hamilton gave Lance Stroll an encouraging thumbs up during race day, live on the track.

3) Lance Stroll of the Williams team, doubles as an F1 driver and budding trendsetter.

His bespoke Canadian flag Williams cap has been coveted since its debut earlier this year.

5) F1 racing has become much more safer and regulated since the days of Rush.

F1 is a dangerous sport, sure, but they're always working to make it safer. This is not always welcomed by legends like as Niki Lauda — who believe safety measures such as Halo will ruin the spirit of the sport.